How is augmented reality used in construction, Smoother faster and safer construction technology

How Is Augmented Reality Used in Construction?

20 August 2024

New technologies are constantly improving the construction industry. One technology that has become increasingly prevalent in recent years is augmented reality. Many construction workers, supervisors, and even architects rely heavily on this relatively new technology to make the construction process smoother, faster, and safer.

In this article, we’ll show what augmented reality is and how AR is used in construction.

What Is Augmented Reality?

Augmented reality (AR), sometimes called extended reality, is an innovative technology that overlays digital visualizations onto real environments. This allows you to combine the digital and physical world in real time to interact with products or buildings before they’re produced/ built.

How Is Augmented Reality Used in Construction Advice

In construction, augmented reality (AR) is used for different purposes, such as:

Visualizing Ideas

Before construction starts, the project has to be planned by an architect. Many architects use virtual reality and augmented reality to visualize design ideas.

Compared to virtual reality, AR combines visualizations with the real world by projecting digital images onto real-world environments, e.g. to see what a building would look like in a certain location.

On-Site Construction

AR helps construction workers on-site by providing visual information. With 3D visualizations, construction workers can identify small details such as the right angles or the correct location for certain parts.

Plus, they can easily switch between images, for example, to see what the rough structure of the building needs to look like and what the finished building will look like.

With this technology construction workers can understand the entire building process and visualize each step of the construction. This leads to higher accuracy and reduces potential mistakes.

Visualizing Plan Changes

Even plan changes can be visualized with augmented reality. Suppose the architect makes an unexpected change to the construction plan. In that case, he or she can simply edit the 3D visualization which will be updated across all devices, so that all construction workers will automatically see the changes that need to be followed.

Improving Safety

Last but not least, AR can also be used for safety training with headsets or augmented reality glasses for construction. They can portray potential safety hazards in a simulated environment, so workers can practice various safety procedures before working on-site.

Benefits of Augmented Reality in Construction

These are all benefits of AR in construction at a glance:

Improved accuracy: Construction workers can ensure accurate work and avoid costly mistakes by following AR instructions.

Increased efficiency: With the help of augmented reality visualizations, construction workers get a better understanding of the project which allows them to work faster and more efficiently.
Improved safety training: Safety training in construction can be improved by simulating potential hazards in a virtual environment. This can reduce the risk of accidents at the construction site later on.
Improved teamwork: All workers involved in a construction project (architects, project managers, construction workers, and potentially clients) can access the digital AR visualization to stay up-to-date with any plan changes which can lead to a better understanding of the project for all parties involved.

Cons of Using AR in the Construction Industry

Augmented reality technology offers many benefits, but as with any new technology, you should also be aware of the drawbacks.

It takes time and effort to set up AR. You have to consider things like:

How can all workers access the AR feature? (e.g. via augmented reality construction app or QR code)

When and how can you train workers how to use AR?
How much does it cost to implement AR?
Do all workers have an internet connection at construction sites? If not, does the AR feature have an offline mode?

The initial setup can be quite expensive and requires effort, but once you overcome the initial hurdles, AR can make the construction process much easier.